I’m currently reading this collection of Cordwainer Smith stories. Someone on here (I forget who it was) recommended him.
Smith (real name: Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger) was fluent in Chinese, along with a few other languages. Wild background: his godfather was Sun Yat-sen.
Saw @dunemovie tonight. Overall, a big 👍. A few thoughts follow.
Denis Villeneuve is clearly the top sci-fi director today. His Dune takes its time (it basically covers the first half of the first Dune book), and includes homages to David Lynch’s movie (see the establishment shot in orbit around Arrakis at ~0.39).
The effects are first rate. As you can see in that trailer, Villeneuve nailed the dragonfly-like ornithopters.
Parlayed the -200 or larger favorites, and put straight bets on the smaller favorites and underdogs. Also added prop bets for Dern and Romanov to get submissions.
The odds on the main event ought to be closer. Dern and Rodriguez both fought Amanda Ribas; Dern lost a decision to her while Rodriguez beat her by TKO. And yet Dern is a -190 favorite over Rodriguez.